Yarn breaker and switch for spinning frames

ABSTRACT

A yarn breaking machine control assembly is provided which automatically breaks one of a pair of moving yarns when the other has been broken or run out and controls an electrical circuit which disables the spinning frame. The assembly includes two pairs of spaced vertical guide pins with cutting surfaces thereon and a vertical stabilizing finger attached to a pivotally mounted support plate which in turn is connected to an electrical switch. Under normal operating conditions, a moving yarn passes between each pair of vertical guide pins, with the support plate being stabilized against rotation by the stabilizing finger confined against movement by the moving yarns on each side of and close to the pin. When one of the yarns breaks or runs out, the support plate, no longer stabilized by the stabilizing finger, rotates to both actuate the switch and to turn the guide pins such that their cutting surfaces grab onto and sever the remaining moving yarn.

United States Patent 1191 Hope [ Sept. 18, 1973 YARN BREAKER AND SWITCH FOR SPINNING FRAMES [76] Inventor: William K. Hope, PO. Box 224,

Gastonia, NC. 28052 [22] Filed: Mar. 24, 1971 211 App]. No.: 127,655

Primary ExaminerRobert R. Mackey Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B.

Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A yarn breaking machine control assembly is provided which automatically breaks one of a pair of moving yarns when the other has been broken or run out and controls an electrical circuit which disables the spinning frame. The assembly includes two pairs of spaced vertical guide pins with cutting surfaces thereon and a vertical stabilizing finger attached to a pivotally mounted support plate which in turn is connected to an electrical switch. Under normal operating conditions, a moving yarn passes between each pair of vertical guide pins, with the support plate being stabilized against rotation by the stabilizing finger confined against movement by the moving yams on each side of and close to the pin. When one of the yarns breaks or runs out, the support plate, no longer stabilized by the stabilizing finger, rotates to both actuate the switch and to turn the guide pins such that their cutting surfaces grab onto and sever the remaining moving yarn.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 18, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

William K. Hope INVENTOR.

BY 2mm WW 12m Patented Sept. 18, 1973 3,759,026

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 William K. Hope I INVENTOR.

BY WW 5M YARN BREAKER AND SWITCH FOR SPINNING FRAMES P The present invention is generally related to yarn spinning and twister frames that are used to spin or twist either unspun or spun yarn. Previously, yarn spin ning and twister frames have'been such that if one of the moving yarns broke, or ran out, the single remaining yarn would continue to enter the machinery, thus spinning or twisting a single yarn where two yarns were intended. Thus, such conventional yarn spinning and twister frames required constant surveillance by an operator who could shut them down if one of the yarns broke, or ran out.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an assembly for automatically sensing the absence of one yarn which has broken, or run out, and sever the remaining yarn and disenable the spinning or twister frame through an electric circuit, thereby preventing the spinning or twisting of a single yarn.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple, inexpensive, yet effective yarn breaking device which provides two pairs of vertical guide pins with cutting surfaces thereon to sever the single remaining yarn in response to the absence of the other yarn.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a versatile yarn cutting assembly wihcih includes two pairs of vertical guide pins, each pair of which accommodates a moving yarn, and a vertical sensing finger attached to a common support plate which rotates in response to the absence of one of the two yarns, sensed by the sensing finger thereby causing the remaining yarn to be severed by the vertical guide pins.

It is still another object of the present invention to' provide a yarn breaking assembly which is coupled to an electrical switch, such that the yarn spinning or twister frame is disenabled by the switch which is actuated by rotation ofthe assembly when one of the moving yarns breaks or runs out. I

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 3

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the yarn breaking assembly of the present invention with both yarns running into the spinning or twister frame;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the assembly shown in' FIG. 1, with cross-sectional views of the yarn rollers and guide trumpet;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the yarn breaking assembly rotated to the yarn breaking position in response to the breaking of one of the yarns;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view along plane 4-4 of FIG. 1, showing a pair of vertical guide pins with cutting surfaces thereon;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vertical guide pins, with the cutting surfaces thereon in the yarn breaking position, as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now more specifically to FIG. 1, the yarn rigid material, formed in a single piece by stamping, molding, or similar process. When desired, however, the support plate may be made of several component pieces. Support plate 12 is mounted on a vertical elongated shaft 22 by way of set screw 24, or similar fastening means, which firmly holds it in place and prevents rotation of the support plate relative to the shaft. Shaft 22 extends downwardly into an enclosure 26 and is coupled to a conventional switch housed therein for disenabling the spinning or twister frames, such as to the switch explained in applicants US. Pat. No. 3,424,880, issued Jan. 28, 1968. Switch housing 26 is mounted to the spinning or twister frame 28, the mechanism of which includes a pair of yarn rollers 30 which aid in drawing a pair of moving yarns 32 and 34 through a merging means or guide trumpet 36 which brings the yarns together, along side each other, prior to reaching rolls 30.

A pair of vertical guide pins 20 are mounted at the end of each guide support arm 14 and 16 for accommodating moving yarns 32 and 34 which move therebetween on their way to drive rolls 30. A vertical stabilizing finger 38, is mounted on the outer end of stabilizer support arm 18 adjacent to the opening of guide trumpet 36, such that yarns 32 and 34 move closely by stabilizing finger 38 and confine it and support plate 12 against rotational movement about the axis of shaft 22. Under normal operating conditions, yarns 32 and 34 will vibrate or oscillate, slightly from side to side, such that they brush against their respective vertical guide pins 20. The brushing action of yarns 32 and 34 against vertical guide pins 20 tends to impart rotational m'ovement to support frame 12, which is stabilized by stabilizing finger 38 which is also brushed at points by the moving yarns as they converge'toward guide trumpet 36. If one of the yarns, such as yarn 34 as shown in FIG. 3, should break, or run out, movementof stabilizing finger 38 would not be confined by the brushing yarns and support frame 12 will rotate about the axis of shaft 22.

i It is appreciated that the brushing of the remaining moving yarn against its guide pins causes support frame 12 to continue rotation until it arrives at a position shown in FIG. 3. During rotation, the remaining yarn 32 becomes misaligned with the opening between vertical guide pins 20 such that positive contact is made with the guide pins which further enhances the rotational movement. As support frame 12 approaches the position shown in FIG. 3, yarn 32v is wrapped around and pulled over the cutting surfaces 40'which sever the yarn 32. The detail of each cutting surface 40 is shown more clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5. It can be seen that, under normal operation, when yarn 32 brushes against guide pins 20 it does not make contact with the rough cutting surfaces 40, but rather contacts relatively smooth or polished surfaces 42. When support frame 12 is rotated, as explained above, yarn 32 brushes against rough cutting surfaces 40, which brushing engagement continues the rotation of support frame 12 to the position shown in FIG. 3. As rotation continues, the amount of engagement between cutting surfaces 40 and yarn 32 is increased to the point shown by FIG. 5, wherein the frictional forces are so great that the yarn is severed under the pulling forces of the twister or spinning frame.

It is appreciated, that as support frame 12 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 3, actuating shaft 22 is likewise rotated to operate the electrical switch inenclosure 26 which disenables the spinning or twister frame and yarn rollers 30. The yarn breaking assembly not only severs the remaining yarn, but disenables the spinning or twister frame as well, to prevent the spinning or twisting of a single yarn. It is appreciated, that this arrangement provides a degree of redundency which further enhances the versatility of the assembly. Should the remaining yarn fail to be severed, for some reason, the switch will prevent further spinning or twisting and vice versa. Such an arrangement, eliminates the need for constant observation or surveillance of the equipment for manual shut-down in case of a yarn breakage or run out. Of course, when it is desired to keep the frame in operation for some reason, the yarn severing assembly may be used alone, without connection to the disenabling switch.

It should be noted, that the cutting surfaces 40 may take a variety of forms such as knurled surfaces or serrated edges, so long as they furnish adequate frictional force to sever the yarn under force of the drive rolls. Thus, different cutting surfaces may be used for light weight yarns, as compared to relatively heavy yarns which require more breaking force. It should also be noted, that the yarn breaking assembly described above may be made of a single piece or of a combination of parts, and that guide pins and stabilizing pin 38 may by either permanently attached to frame 12 or removable for replacement. It is also appreciated, that the yarn breaking assembly of the present invention may be manufactured from a variety of materials including metals, woods, and plastics. Thus, a versatile, relatively simple, economical assembly is'provided for sensing that one ofa pair of moving yarns has broken or run out and severing the remaining yarn and disenabling the spinning or twister frame mechanism.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous yarns when the other breaks or runs out, said assembly comprising: yarn feeding means, yarn merging means, first and second guide means each straddling one of the moving yarns as the yarns move toward first and second sensing points, respectively, and toward said merging means, sensing means connected to said first and second guide means and adjacent said first and second sensing points and disposed between said moving yarns for sensing the presence of each of the moving yarns as they converge toward said merging means, each of said first and second guide means including severing means for severing one of the moving yarns in response to said sensing means when sensing the absence of the other moving yarn at its sensing point, each of said first and second guide means including a pair of spaced guide pins between which one of the yarns moves, each of said severing means including a severing surface on the associated guide pins, and means supporting said guide means and sensing means for pivotal movement about a common axis.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said severing surfaces is formed on a portion of each of said guide pins, said severing surfaces operatively engaging the associated yarn only when the sensing means senses the absence of one of the yarns.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said guide pins has a generally cylindrical outer surface, part of which is smooth and part of which is said severing surface.

4. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said sensing means includes a stabilizing finger pivotally mounted for orbital movement about said common axis.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said means supporting said guide means and sensing means is a support plate pivotally mounted for rotation about said common axis.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said pairs of guide pins are spaced apart from each other by a distance greater than the distance between said first and'second sensing points.

7. The structure set forth in claim 6 together with an electrical switch connected to said support plate for stoppng movement of the yarn in response to said sensing means sensing the absence of one of the yarns.

I F i 

1. An assembly for severing one of a pair of moving yarns when the other breaks or runs out, said assembly comprising: yarn feeding means, yarn merging means, first and second guide means each straddling one of the moving yarns as the yarns move toward first and second sensing points, respectively, and toward said merging means, sensing means connected to said first and second guide means and adjacent said first and second sensing points and disposed between said moving yarns for sensing the presence of each of the moving yarns as they converge toward said merging means, each of said first and second guide means including severing means for severing one of the moving yarns in response to said sensing means when sensing the absence of the other moving yarn at its sensing point, each of said first and second guide means including a pair of spaced guide pins between which one of the yarns moves, each of said severing means including a severing surface on the associated guide pins, and means supporting said guide means and sensing means for pivotal movement about a common axis.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said severing surfaces is formed on a portion of each of said guide pins, said severing surfaces operatively engaging the associated yarn only when the seNsing means senses the absence of one of the yarns.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said guide pins has a generally cylindrical outer surface, part of which is smooth and part of which is said severing surface.
 4. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said sensing means includes a stabilizing finger pivotally mounted for orbital movement about said common axis.
 5. The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said means supporting said guide means and sensing means is a support plate pivotally mounted for rotation about said common axis.
 6. The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said pairs of guide pins are spaced apart from each other by a distance greater than the distance between said first and second sensing points.
 7. The structure set forth in claim 6 together with an electrical switch connected to said support plate for stoppng movement of the yarn in response to said sensing means sensing the absence of one of the yarns. 